2009 Urbanski Family Christmas Party

 
Once again this year we celebrated Christmas with Sue's side of the family. Actually we have been celebrating together almost thirty years. Most every year until the last two we have consistently met each Christmas Eve. This year we met at Len and Marcie's (Urbanski) on the Saturday before Christmas (12/19/2009). That's my nephew Ryan with his girl friend Emily in the photo above. The handsome guys behind them are of course me and (Uncle) Ron Bouch. I could actually see Ron through Ryan's ear. Don't let Ron scare you he always looks like that.
Since Sue and I married in 1981 we have been gathering with the Urbanski side of the family each Christmas. When we started there of course were no kids. Well that's not true, Jeremy Scott was born in 1980 so he would have been there from the beginning. Back then we started each Christmas Eve celebration with a football game. We must have done this for about five years. For some reason, probably survival we ceased to play. But we have continued sharing a hot meal, fun, and presents. Some time in the early 1980's we began to play our unique version of gift giving. Well at least back then it was unique. Since then I am aware that others frequently play the gift game. You see we don't just give gifts we decided it was better to "take" gifts. What started out as about 12 relatives playing this game has evolved to almost thirty. Twenty-eight participated this year and David Scott, Jeremy and his lovely new wife Amy, and Jenifer Mason where not able to come. We missed them.
Well anyway back to the game. I'll spare you the specific rules for now, but in general each relative brings a wrapped gift. Each gift is placed in the center of the room. Sequential numbers are randomly assigned. The game is played in ascending order. That is the relative that has number 1 goes first and picks a gift from the pile. Each succeeding person can either "take" a preceding players gift or take one from the pile. This is performed over and over until all numbers are played and all gifts from the pile are selected. We encourage the "taking" of gifts from each other. Yes we like being mean in a nice way. After all these years we all understand that no one should become too comfortable with their selected gift. Unless its a dud. Then they must find a way to market their selected gift. Below is a photo from a Christmas party about five years ago showing one of the more calmer moments. This years attendance included; Len, Marcie, Ryan (& Emily), and Richie Urbanski. Marcie once again graciously hosted the party at their River Forest house. David and Cindy (Urbanski) Scott. Dave had to leave early. Ron and Karen (Urbanski) Bouch with Nicholos, Patrick, and RJ. Tommy and Marsha Mason. Their son Scott and his girlfriend (& children). Jeff and Chris (Applegarth)Ekas with Jeff's daughter (Shannon). Myself, Sue (Urbanski) Brown with Josh and his girlfriend (Sara), Amanda and her boyfriend (Brandon), Matt and Kara.
As usual we had an excellent time. Each year is special yet different. We just seem to enjoy each other more and more each year. Two events stood out this year. The first was Ron's gift. Surprise! A deer call and deer urine. Yes that's what I said - urine. Thankfully Ron selected his own gift and loved it. His picture at the top of this post says it all. Possibly one other stand out was that Sue and I gave framed enlarged photos of Len, Cindy, Karen, and Sue's Dad. Leonard "Popeye" Urbanski Navy photo's. Actually it was a postcard of his Ship, "The USS Brownson" and his handwritten postcard note together with a picture of him standing by a column of the Pantheon. I guess it turned out fairly nice. Merry Christmas Urbanski clan!

Brown kids

 

Picture taken in the living room of our Indiana, PA South Sixth Street House in 1995. Matthew is on the left, Josh is holding Kara, and Amanda on the right.

Everyone does what is right in his own eyes

I love this brief clip of Milton Friedman on the Phil Donahue Show back in 1979. It reminds me of Deuteronomy 12:8 and so many other verses concerning how we are motivated by our self interest.

To me all of the non-capitalistic systems used in the world don't understand the human heart and try to create heaven on earth so-to-speak. Truly only Jesus changing a man's heart can do that. For utopia on earth to exist every man, woman, and child would need to have a changed heart. Even scripture reveals that not everyone will choose Jesus. Scripture and my experience reveal that only Jesus can change one's heart. Capitalism works because it recognizes our human condition and that is that in order for an individual to get what he wants he must provide to others what they want.

Adam Smith said in his book the "Wealth of Nations" that it is not for your benevolence that the butcher, the baker, the brewer prepares your meal, but from regard to their own interest."

Matt Midfielder Indiana Soccer Team

This is the first in a series of articles, stories, and accounts that I am writing about events in each of our children’s lives. This first story focuses on Matthew Robert Brown and how he became a starter on the Varsity Soccer team. He is age 17 at this writing and is entering his final year of high school at Indiana Senior Area High School. The picture at left was taken of Matt at the start of his junior year.

Matt has been an Indiana High School soccer player since his freshman year. This year his team is ranked by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette eight in their conference. Last year (his junior year) he added varsity baseball to his resume (More on that in a later post). Before that he played Peewee Football during his 5th and 6th grade school years followed by Junior High football (7th and 8th grades). Matt began his athletic career when he played on a traveling Soccer team in his 2nd through 4th grade years.


Soccer and Peewee football overlapped each other. I really didn’t want Matt or for that matter Josh when he was in grade school to play football during their grade school years. Though Matt really wanted to play football and with the persuasion of others (Peewee Football coaches) I relented. Hence he switched in 5th grade to football. Both Sue and I felt that it was too much for Matt to do both sports at the same time. Therefore he dropped Soccer. He was already involved in other sports during their respective seasons (i.e. basketball and baseball). Sue was concerned that we were letting Matt’s sports life rule our family. In retrospect its obvious she was right, but somehow it worked out OK. And we have wonderful memories of watching a pint sized kid work hard and have fun.


Matt loved playing football and did well enough to start all four years that he played. In his first year of Peewee he was the starting QB (he had the strongest arm on the team) and played just about every place on defense because he could and made an impact. Matt was a bit small compared to most of the other kids his age. He dominated anyway. He was among the fastest, he was aggressive, advanced in athleticism for the age of 11, and was able to comprehend the complexities of what needed to be done. In sixth grade, Matt became a full time running back and corner back on defense that played more like a line backer. He had an excellent coach who taught him the mechanics of footwork for a running back. Again he excelled. A number of his teammates started to physically grow at this point and the athleticism gap with Matt began to close. Matt, it appears by God’s design was small like his father at that age and slow to grow.

Entering his Seventh Grade year, it seemed that every one grew again and Matt didn’t. He again played a lot of running back and was effective but no longer started on offense. He was a starting corner back on defense though and the coaches said they loved his aggressiveness and ability. But Matt started to face some rather large receivers and big running backs compared to him. To his credit he never backed down and more than held his own. The Seventh grade team went undefeated. In Eighth grade, once again Matt’s friends and teammates grew while he himself grew very little. The Eighth grade team again had a great year. Matt became the starting safety and returned some punts. He was also one of the backup wide receivers because he had such great hands. I could through Matt a football as fast as I could and Matt would catch it even at less than 10 yards. One of his eighth grade coaches told another football player and classmate of Matt's recently, that if Matt had grown he may have been one of the best receivers that Indiana had seen in a while. The eighth grade football season was physically hard on Matt. Especially given that Matt refused to change his playing style. And that trying to be just as physical with larger kids as they were with him. He didn't miss any games, but Matt showed some wisdom at an early age. After the season he politely told me that if he didn't grow by Ninth grade he wasn't going to continue with football. I was a little sad because Matt had a lot of talent in that little body, but I respected his opinion and supported him.

Going into Matt's ninth grade year he again grew little, especially compared to his classmates. I knew he wasn't going to play football, but I was surprised when Matt decided to try out for the Soccer team. I guess I was surprised because we never talked about soccer, he hadn't played since fourth grade, and it was the day before camp began. I was a little concerned because I didn't want Matt to be disappointed if he didn't make the team. He was going up against a group of players that had been playing the whole time Matt was doing football. Though Matt was athletic he virtually had no soccer skills. The coach was known to cut players because he only kept enough for varsity and Jr. varsity. I know that when I was that age, I let my pride stop me from trying out for teams simply because I didn't want to be cut. I was impressed that Matt was prepared to try out and risk failure. Once again I was proud of Matt. Not because he might make the soccer team, but rather because he was willing to risk failure. He was prepared to be humbled where I would have never done that at his age. From my perspective Matt was not motivated to elevate himself but just wanted to play and have some fun. Well we know that God gives grace to the humble and in this case Matt made the junior varsity team. Initially he did not start JV as a freshmen but started to get more and more time as the season progressed.

By the time of his Junior year he finally started to grow. He began to press the seniors who were a head of him for varsity time. Though he didn't start he often played forty minutes or more a game. The 2008 team went undefeated against teams in their conference and beat some notable teams outside of their conference. In over a 20 game season his team only gave up nine goals the entire year. Indiana made the playoffs and Matt was one of only three players who didn't start but played and played a significant number of minutes at that. Matt of course "lettered" for the year.

Well Matt is entering his final year of soccer. He is the starting Mid-fielder on the right wing. Though the team does not count on Matt to score he is one of their better play makers. He has an excellent read of the field and excels at passing. I have no doubt that he will be one of Indiana's assist leaders by years end. Matt remains a respectful young man to his coaches and fellow teammates. We are proud that Matt does not have a big head. He plays hard, has confidence in the abilities that God has given him, and doesn't think more (or less) of himself than he should. Go Indians and go Matt!

Summer Fun, Outer Banks, NC

IUP Pre-Law History Grad Mr. Josh Brown with Sara

Joshua graduated with honors from IUP this past May. I hope to include some excerpts from a letter that one of Josh's Professors sent to him following graduation that is not available now. Josh finished school with a major in History/Pre-law and a minor in Spanish. He worked at the John Murtha Homeland Security Institute in his last year. His duties were to publish a Homeland Security related newsletter. I hope to add a sample of this shortly as well. His boss at the Institute gave him a nice IUP frame to display his diploma which has since fallen to the floor and cracked the glass. This August 18, 2009 Josh will attend orientation at the Franklin Pierce Law School in New Hampshire and immediate thereafter start classes in the field of International Law.

"Dad I'm Nineteen"

Actually, Amanda will be surprised to know that I know as of her birthday last month she is now "twenty"! She has always done a good job of reminding me of how old she is. She is full of life. She loves friends and "hanging out". She most certainly has the gift of hospitality. She has contributed to some of our most fun times in our family. When she was younger she asked while we were at a ball game "Dad can I have some money for the confession stand?" Another time she said to me while scratching her feet "I think I have catholic feet!" Her laugh is infectious and her smile is as beautiful as a sunset. I cannot imagine life without her. We love you Panda. May the Lord bless you overflowing with his Grace and Mercy all of your days.

Matt with his Prom Date Irene Berman/Vaporis

State Champion Cody Partyka

Cody and Zack are my sister Sharon's two boys. Cody in his Junior year at Peters Township High school was one of the leaders on the Soccer Team to beat everyone on their way to the AAA Pennsylvania Soccer Finals. Peter Township became the 2007 Pennsylvania State Champs. Cody not satisfied lead his team as a senior back to the State Finals in 2008. This time his freshman brother Zach joined him. See Zach's photo below. Cody has been given a scholarship to Marshall University to play on there soccer team. He starts this August. One more thing, I forgot to include that Cody was named to the Post Gazette All-Star team for WPIAL AAA and the Post Gazette All Boys Team. Finally, the Post Gazette bids adieu to the prolific Peters Township Varsity Soccer Seniors.

Matthæus is ... wait for it ... "seventeen"

According to wikipedia Matthew is ultimately derived from the Hebrew name מתתיהו (Matatyahu, Mattathias) or מתיתיהו (Matityahu, Mattithiah), Matthew means "gift of Yahweh". The Hebrew name is also spelled מתניהו (Matanyahu, Mattaniah). Whatever his name is or however it is spelt or said Sue and I could not be more proud of him. Each year we continue to see more and more evidence of the Grace of God in Matthews life. He truly is a gift of God to us.

Zack Partyka